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Abstract:

This study considered the effects of crop
species (alfalfa vs. corn) and silage additives on
six categories of indigenous microorganisms
(those naturally occurring on the crop) important
to silage fermentation, and on the microbial
succession during the ensiling process. The
numbers of streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae,
yeasts and molds, lactate-using yeasts, and carbohydrate-
fermenting clostridial spores were
higher on corn than on alfalfa. The lactic acid
bacteria (LAB) comprised less than 2% of the
total microbial populations on both crops.
Alfalfa treated with Biomate® inoculant
and the combination of dextrose and Biomate
showed higher LAB counts than the control and
dextrose treatments at 1 day post-ensiling.
Adding dextrose accelerated multiplication of
LAB in the ensiled alfalfa. Adding 1174®
inoculant to corn silages did not affect the
microbial succession during the ensiling process.
Development of Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and
molds, lactate-using yeasts, and clostridia on
either crop during ensiling was not influenced
by the additives.